It seems to be traveller folklore that the least desirable seats on airplanes are the middle seats (in other words, with three seats directly next to each other, stuck between someone at the window and someone with aisle access). On some widebody planes (e.g. 777s with a 2-5-2 seat layout), there are even 'super-middle' seats stuck between other middle seats (yes, I made up the phrase 'super-middle' - not sure if there's a better name!)

To me, and I think most travellers, middle seats are the worst of all options: no view from the window, and stuck between other potential strangers to make it harder to get out.

So are there any advantages at all to a middle seat? Does anyone ever pick one deliberately, and why?

Side note: Boeing 767s are made so that 87% of passengers are sitting in either a window or an aisle seat. Only if the plane's capacity exceeds 87% will middle seats need to start filling.
– gparyaniOct 21 '14 at 17:27

4

They're popular with families, and other people travelling as groups
– GagravarrOct 21 '14 at 18:33

2

You could see it as a good compromise: Neither too far from the window nor too far from the aisle. ;-)
– fekleeOct 21 '14 at 19:35

One can argue that you can squeeze a naughty toddler in a middle seat, but you can do the same by putting him in the window seat, can't really seem to find an advantage, not for sleeping, not for mobility, not for viewing.. nothing. Maybe the only thing about them is a family can sit together in a row, if the number of seats matches the number of family members..
– Nean Der ThalOct 21 '14 at 20:00

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i don't see how this is "traveller folklore", it's more "immediately obvious to everyone".
– ellFeb 5 '15 at 23:30

5 Answers
5

You have the moral advantage when fighting for the armrest. The person on the aisle or window has at least one uncontested armrest already.

There's a slightly higher chance that the seat in front of you and/or behind you will be unoccupied. If in front, you don't have to worry about them putting their chair back. If behind, then you don't have to worry about them kicking you or about inconveniencing them by putting your chair back.

Yeah, not much advantage. I've never picked one unless it was to sit next to someone I know.

for exiting in an emergency, aside from sitting in the exit row, aisle seats > middle seats > window seats for ease to escape

for exiting the plane, it's faster than a window seat in the same row

if you want to be 'that guy', on airlines like RyanAir where it's sit where you want seating, taking a middle seat on a partially empty flight makes it more likely you'll get three seats to yourself as other travellers want to sit next to their friends/family and will sit elsewhere.

less noise / chance of being bumped by a cart

when the plane tilts a bit from side to side, you move less in the middle than the window (although again, aisle wins here)

You get two armrests! Two is better than one, although this now leads to two potential arguments over the no-man's land that is the armrest. Some will argue that nobody should use them. And now you have no armrests that are ONLY yours.

statistically greater chance that you'll have a spare seat on one or the other side of you than when you're in the window seat and have only that one chance.

you have easier access to the bathroom than the window seat person.

small one, but on the aisle seat I hate handing other passenger's dirty plates over me to the attendant, in case something spills. Middle seat has less chance of this happening, as they only have the window seat's stuff passing them.

The middle seat(s) between the two aisles on a widebody plane shares one advantage of window seats: you won't have to get up to let someone else out, so if you're able to sleep, you have a better chance to do it undisturbed.

If you are traveling alone it's hard to come up with a good justification. But many people travel in pairs. One will want the aisle or the window for whatever reasons people want those seats (I'm a hard core window person myself) and the other wants the middle because it's next to their travel companion.

Our strategy is always to book aisle and window (when dealing with three-seat rows vs. two-seat rows) in hopes of the middle seat remaining unoccupied. If someone does show up to sit the middle seat we offer to give them the aisle (so we can sit next to each other). Never been turned down.
– Andrew MedicoNov 3 '15 at 3:15

On cattle call seating I've seen the strategy to look for people who are obviously together sitting in the aisle/window hoping no one will sit between them and getting the whole row to yourself. If you have to pick a middle, your odds of trading for aisle/window are better.
– JohnFxNov 3 '15 at 14:24